Today's News

The Roane County Teachers Supply Closet is still in need of donations to support area teachers this school year.

With less than three weeks remaining before the teachers begin shopping on Sept. 28 for needed classroom supplies, the Roane County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Teachers Supply Closet has received fewer supplies and financial contributions than in previous years.

Parents can still register their children for the Homeschool Fridays programs offered through December at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

Museum educators will lead students through interactive programs on a number of topics. Grades K-2 meet for an hour beginning at 10:30 a.m. Cost per session is $5 for museum members; $7 for the general public.

Students in grades 3-6 begin the program at 12:30 p.m. and continue for two hours, with a cost of $9 for museum members and $12 for the public.

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
When the nation’s Founders protected press freedom, they had never heard of public high school football games. If they had, they probably would have understood the desire of a free press to cover them. But the press has run into a little trouble with that of late.

Gentle reader, at a gathering we recently attended, we were asked by a lady of our acquaintance why we were being so hard on the Tea Party.
Although we gave a quick answer to her question, we did not do so at any length, since it did not seem appropriate at such a light-hearted social occasion.
However, we regard it as a legitimate question, and one that we should address.

A Roane County deputy didn’t buy the story two burglary suspects gave about scrapping a friend’s vehicles.
Timothy Michael Chesser and Jaret Shonn Axell, both of Harriman, were charged with two counts of theft over $1,000 but less than $10,000 and burglary in the Aug. 27 incident.

Chesser was also charged with public intoxication

Bill Alexander, the owner of the stolen property, praised the Roane County Sheriff’s Office and Harriman Police Department during the Harriman City Council on Tuesday.

Could a downgrade be in store after the agency lowered the U.S. credit rating?

“It’s possible, because the federal decreased, and they may just lump everybody together,” Roane County Executive Ron Woody said. “However, they really rate you when you have a new issue, and we’re not anticipating anything.”

Citing political gridlock in Congress, S&P downgraged the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+ last month.

Three Roane State Community College athletes received Academic Student-Athlete Awards from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The recipients are basketball player Natasha Phillips of Clarkrange and baseball players Brandon Wilson of Sevierville and Jeff Wooll of Crossville. Phillips was also named an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention.
The NJCAA is the governing body of two-year college athletics. The organization’s Academic Student-Athlete Awards recognize athletes who have grade-point averages between 3.6-4.0.

Even after their mock wrestling match at Hooray for Harriman, Chris Hart, in orange mask, and Bryson Ellis, still make their best wrestling faces. The outdoor activities for the popular festival were canceled due to heavy rain Monday, but wrestling and music continued indoors. See more photographs in the slideshow section.